January 2011 State Parks, Recreation & Travel Commission Summary

The following is a synopsis of the Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting held January 20, 2011 at the 1914 Schoolhouse at Historic Washington State Park. For questions regarding this report, please contact Gloria Robins, executive assistant, at 501-682-7614. The next Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission meeting will be held February 17 at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Executive Director Richard Davies distributed a compilation of contact information for the 88th General Assembly to the Commission. Former commissioner Tom Schueck of Little Rock thanked the Commission for his time served. Schueck was appointed to the Arkansas Highway Commission. For more information contact Gloria Robins at 501-682-7614.

STATE PARKS DIVISION

The Commission approved the Division’s Arkansas Natural & Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) FY12 grant request andFY11-FY13 Capital Improvement Projects to be funded from Amendment 75, Arkansas’s 1/8 Cent Conservation Tax.For additional information on either item contact Stan Graves at 501-682-6930.

The Commission approved a horseback riding concession at Pinnacle Mountain State Park to provide a new recreation opportunity for visitors. The business plans to open spring 2011. For additional information contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.

With Clark County voting “wet” during last November’s election, the Commission approved ASP to proceed with requesting a beer and wine permit from the Alcohol Board Control (ABC) for DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge’s restaurant and conference facilities.For additional information contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.

Stan Graves, Manager of Planning & Development, reported that the Hobbs Visitors Information Center has been awarded a LEED Silver Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and was proud to receive the certification.LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.For additional information contact Stan Graves at 501-682-6930.

Greg Butts proudly reported Kelly Farrell, Field Interpreter for ASP, is the recipient of the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Master Interpretive Manager Award for 2010. The award was presented at NAI’s national workshop in Las Vegas in November 2010.For additional information contact Jay Miller at 501-682-6928.

Greg Butts reported the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives (NEARA) facility, located on the grounds of Powhatan Historic State Park, will be dedicated March 3, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Operated by the Arkansas History Commission, the NEARA facility will preserve regional archives and prepare records for researchers.For additional information contact Greg Butts at 501-682-7743.

TOURISM DIVISION

Joe David Rice, tourism director, and Nancy Clark, assistant tourism director, distributed new brochures showcasing the Southeast Arkansas project. Nancy Clark reported that the 37th annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism is March 6-8 in Little Rock. For more information contact Nancy Clark at 501-682-1120.

Research and Information Services Manager Joanne Hinson reported on Welcome Center figures and inquiries received by the Department. January-December visitation is 903,420 up 3.4% over 2009. For more information contact Joanne Hinson at 501-324-1520.

An update of the Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study Grant was presented to the Commission. The Arkansas Festivals & Events Association Conference will be held in Little Rock Jan. 31- Feb. 2 and the Arkansas Agritourism Conference will be held in Little Rock Feb. 18-19. For more information contact Donna Perrin at 501-682-1926.

Communications Manager Dena Woerner reported on the national media exposure Arkansas: The State of Fishing has generated. The media tour included travel writers, photographers, trade publications and fishing manufacturers. Lake Norfork, Lake Bull Shoals and the White River were visited. For more information contact Dena Woerner at 501-682-7606.

Renee Robison, Group Travel Manager reported on the American Bus Association Marketplace held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earlier this month. Robinson said there had been an increase in inquiries about the motorcoach market focusing on the Civil War.

CJRW presented media and creative recommendations for the Spring/Summer 2011 Online Campaign at a cost of $773,685. The proposed plan was approved by the Commission. For more information contact Karen Mullikin at 501-975-7217.

Jonathan Eudy, Producer at Aristotle, reported online trends and statistics. Arkansas ranked #5 when compared to all 50 state tourism sites and #1 among contiguous states during Dec. 2010.